Most Indonesian Citizens Who Have Worked Abroad Have Less Than a High School Education: These Are Their Destination Countries

Central Statistics Agency (BPS) research reveals that limited education is a factor contributing to the vulnerability of Indonesian Migrant Workers (IMWs).

"This condition also impacts their limited understanding of their rights and obligations in the employment relationship," BPS stated in the 2024 Labor Mobility Analysis from the Sakernas.

However, based on the highest level of education completed, the majority of IMWs (58%) have completed high school or less.

The following are the numbers of Indonesian citizens who have worked abroad in the last 5 years, by destination country and highest level of education completed as of 2024:

Malaysia

• Below High School: 128,800 people
• High School and Above: 80,600 people

Saudi Arabia

• Below High School: 49,400 people
• High School and Above: 9,300 people

Taiwan

• Below High School: 26,900 people
• High School and Above: 14,600 people

Singapore

• Below High School: 23,900 people
• High School and Above: 14,400 people

Hong Kong

• Below High School: 10,600 people
• High School and Above: 6,500 people

United Arab Emirates

• Below High School: 8,300 people
• High School and Above: 2,700 people

Brunei Darussalam

• Below High School: 5,500 people
• High School and Above: 7,500 people

South Korea

• Below High School: 1,900 people
• High School and Above: 5,300 people

Japan

• Below High School: 400 people
• High School and Above: 12,800 people

United States

• Below High School: 0
• High School and Above: 4,700 people

Other Countries

• Below High School: 6,700 people
• High School and Above: 31,200 people

Based on this data, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are destination countries where a larger proportion of workers have completed less than high school compared to those with high school or above, with a ratio of approximately 8:2.

A similar situation occurs for workers in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, with a ratio of approximately 6:4.

Meanwhile, those working in the United States all have high school education or above. Almost all workers in Japan also have high school education or above.